Experts: Sexual assault underreported; fear of retaliation a factor

David Rogers

Wednesday

Oct 19, 2016 at 12:01 AMOct 19, 2016 at 4:54 PM

A national conversation about sexual assault that erupted last week with a leaked recording of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump promises to continue this week with the final presidential debate, to be held Wednesday in Las Vegas.

And area mental health experts say that added attention might mean more help for victims.

Since the release of the recording and Trump’s subsequent denial that he had kissed or groped women without consent, several women have come forward telling news outlets how they had been assaulted in years past by Trump. And the topic continues to pique people’s interest on social media.

In vulgar terms, Trump told Billy Bush, then co-host of Access Hollywood, that he aggressively attempted to seduce Bush’s colleague Nancy O’Dell, while she was in Palm Beach. The failed attempt included taking her furniture shopping, he said.

A local sociology professor and a leading area mental health professional say sexual assault is pervasive in American society and can traumatize its victims for years after an attack.

Many cases of sexual assault are not reported because "women are not really paid attention to when they are making these accusations," said Pam Gionfriddo, chief executive officer of the Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County.

"A lot of women with lower self-esteem may think they somehow did something wrong to put themselves in a precarious situation, which is ridiculous," Gionfriddo said.

Victims might be hesitant to report sexual assault because they fear retaliation, particularly when the aggressor is their boss or is in another position of power, she said. Gionfriddo encourages women to tell a family member, religious figure or the police about unwanted sexual contact.

Getting psychological counseling can reduce the risk of developing debilitating anxiety and depression, she said, pointing out that men also are victims of sexual assault. Gionfriddo said people can call the association’s help line, 801-HELP, to be referred to a mental health counselor or support group.

"There is this normalization or neutralization of what he said, by saying it’s locker-room banter," Backstrom said. The "boys will be boys" mentality contributes to what she calls a "rape culture."

The notion of what it means to be a man in our society is tied to power and status, she explained.

"It plays out with our beliefs of masculinity — with the idea that men are the initiators (of sex), that men gain status by being able to be sexually desired by women and by having many sexual partners," Backstrom said.

Colleges nationwide have programs that teach young people to have responsible conversations before sexual activity starts to ensure both parties "explicitly and enthusiastically" agree to it, Backstrom said.

Either partner has the right to say no to continuing a sexual act after it has started and, if the other partner continues, that constitutes assault, Backstrom said.

Women have the right to decide whether to have sex — and either decision should be empowering, Backstrom said.

"A lot of this (anti-rape culture education) is centered on young people," she said, "but it applies to older people as well."